Town centre firms discuss the impact of moving Spalding Flower Parade to Springfields

Businesses voiced their concerns over the future of Spalding Flower Parade.

Following the recent proposal made by Spalding Flower Parade committee members, the public was asked for its verdict on the future of the showpiece event.

As work for the £26 million revamp gets under way next year at the Castle Sports Complex, organisers suggest the only option is to hold the much loved parade at Springfields Event and Conference Centre - or cancel it for 2025. They then took the decision to go along with using Springfields as the start and end of the parade.

We asked businesses in the town what they think about the parade’s future and its impact on the economy of the town…

Philip Hall, a partner at Turner’s Fish Restaurant, known as Sheddy’s said: “I would rather have it down there (Springfields Events and Conference Centre) then not have it here at all.

“It’s the rock or the hard place – neither is what you would choose but we’ve got to live with reality. I think for traders it would take some customers from us but we don’t stand here throughout the year doing nothing, we are not an events business so whilst it’s nice to have the increase in customers, it wouldn’t be a huge loss for us as a business as we are consistent all year round.

“I think the flower parade has become a victim of its own success. It has grown very quickly and needs more space to fulfil it’s objectives – that space has disappeared at an inconvenient time but there is never really a right time.

“I like being the town that has the flower parade, rather than the town that used to have it and if this is the solution, that’s just how it is.”

Staff at Charmed Interior in Bridge Street, Chantelle England, Lizzie Bradley and Jane Inkley, also agreed that the parade needs to move to the new venue. They said that the bars and restaurants benefit from it being in town but felt that it was important for the parade to keep going.

Other business owners aren’t too keen on the idea – expressing their worries for the independent shops, the town’s reputation and footfall.

Sue Stubley of Occasions Jewellers in Bridge Street, said: “The parade should stay but it needs to be in the town, it’s something for the town not Springfields, we need to benefit from it not them.

“It has always been a Spalding-based parade so I’m afraid I am not in agreement of it moving.

“It doesn’t do any business for places like us but it does really well for the eateries in town – they are flat out all day.

“The flower parade needs to make our town sing again and the demise of the town is partly due to Springfields and the council – it needs to stay where it was born. We need to keep it here.”

Trudy Edgington, owner of the Green Bowl on New Road, suggested it was important to strike the right balance.

She said: “I’m not going to be happy if it starts at Springfields. Maybe if they start there and end up in town it would be better but I am worried it will stop the tourists coming into the town.

“It’s nice that people want to continue doing it but I think we’ll struggle as a business.”

Bookseller Ella Lewis, at Bookmark, said: “During this year’s flower parade I wouldn’t say we were necessarily busy but I would say we had different customers than normal and lots of people who weren’t from the area giving our shop and cafe positive feedback.

“I think if they move to Springfields it will take away from the fact that it does bring new people into the town. I understand why they want to put it on again due to the good publicity for the area, but they should do it in a local space that can help businesses.

“Visitors and businesses need to get the most out of the event – I think there needs to be a big discussion.”

What do you think? How can we ensure that businesses feel the benefit of the flower parade? Let us know your views in the comments below…